Despite what many film fans like to believe, movies don't just happen, no matter how slick the finished product looks. Just ask Skyfall's production designer Dennis Gassner here.

Pulling back the curtain on how MI6's new offices and certain Shanghai sets were made, this new production video blog shows the inner workings of Pinewood's 007 Soundstage, explaining the delicate transfer of notebook-bound ideas to workable real-life set.

Frankly, it's great that the EON crew are willing to show us just how the magic happens, as it's happening - and for that, we're certainly grateful.

Skyfall is out on October 26, and there is much, much more about it in the new issue of Empire, which you can pick up today - or subscribe here, so that you can be sure of getting our cool subscribers covers in future.

Gassner's unquestionably a very talented production designer, but I wasn't by his work for QoS. I understand that film's production was a particularly troubled one, but I never really understood using the Barbican as a location for a Bond (as imposing as it is, but gritty brutalism in the world of Astons and Martinis?). Moreover, I really couldn't stand MI6's vodka lounge HQ.
Is there anyone else here who thinks Guy Dyas would actually be perfect for this job? More

If nothing this film will be visually stunning, I'm hoping the script and the set pieces are as good and we could have ourselves not just one hell of a Bond film but one of hell film full stop. This is very rapidly becoming my most anticipated film of 2012, TDKR is only a nose in front now. More